The effect of insurance status on pre- and post-operative bariatric surgery outcomes

This study compared pre- and post-surgical data and outcomes among gastric bypass patients based on the type of insurance (Medicaid, Medicare, or private).

Data were examined from 2553 consecutive RYGB patients at a rural ASMBS Center of Excellence.

Participants were primarily female (80.5 %), Caucasian (97.1 %), and middle-aged (45.9 years). Medicaid patients' BMI at consultation was significantly higher than the other two groups (p < 0.001). Time to surgery was significantly longer for Medicaid (13.2 %) and Medicare (7.1 %) patients compared with privately insured patients (p < 0.001). Pre-surgical weight loss and post-surgical percent of excess weight loss nadir did not differ among the groups. Type 2 diabetes remission rates were comparable across insurance groups.

Medicaid patients, although demographically different from their privately insured and Medicare counterparts, will benefit from surgery with comparable weight loss results and overall diabetes remission rates.